Mercy In The Mess

06 Sep Mercy In The Mess

Posted at 22:58h in English Service by

Pastor Vincent - 26 March 2015

Let God Be True, And Every Man A Liar

All English Service

We may have heard the gospel often enough. Sometimes, listening to the gospel gives us some practical contradiction as we detect what we feel, think and do right now may not be in agreement with what God says of us. Sometimes, when we are being driven by our emotions, make decisions according to our own desires, pride and gains, we unconsciously defend ourselves by justifying for them without even verifying them through the truth of God. But in the midst of justifying for our disbelief and unfaithfulness, God's faithfulness remains unchanged. Paul said - Let God be true and every human being a liar - including your emotions, your thoughts, the things that draw much of your attention. Nothing in this world, seen and unseen, is more real than God Himself. And this has to be the starting point of faith, ie acknowledging the unchanging God and thus yield to Him first. This is like putting God's will and truth on the other side of the weighing scale, and let it be accentuated in all aspects of our lives more than our own emotions, will and thoughts. Next, knowing the disparity between what we feel and what God says of us, God asks us to test the trueness of His word, so that we will come to know Him better, and see how He's still leading us in His covenant today. As we seek reconciliation with God through what the truth says, our thoughts, emotions and living will be directed to the truth. As we submit to His will, God will prove Himself to be true. Through the message today, may it expose the hidden dilemmas we have been sweeping under the carpet. God says, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6 NIV)" . Indeed, God wants us to know Him, follow Him and be convinced by the truthfulness of God in everyday of our lives so that we can enjoy the happiness this precious reality brings us!

Related Topics: Regeneration & Sanctification | More Messages from Pastor Vincent

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1 When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, “Give me children, or I’ll die!”

2 Jacob became angry with her and said, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”

7 Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. 8 Then Rachel said, “I have had a great struggle with my sister, and I have won.” So she named him Naphtali.

14 During wheat harvest, Reuben went out into the fields and found some mandrake plants, which he brought to his mother Leah. Rachel said to Leah, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.”

15 But she said to her, “Wasn’t it enough that you took away my husband? Will you take my son’s mandrakes too?”

“Very well,” Rachel said, “he can sleep with you tonight in return for your son’s mandrakes.”

16 So when Jacob came in from the fields that evening, Leah went out to meet him. “You must sleep with me,” she said. “I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So he slept with her that night.

22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace.” 24 She named him Joseph, and said, “May the Lord add to me another son.”

 

Messy families abound in a sinful world.

1) A trend observed in the Bible.

  • Polygamy
  • Sibling rivalry
  • Deception
  • Murder
  • Adultery
  • God blessed His people not because they were perfect, but because He loved them.

 

2) Brokenness persists today.

 

3) Sinful humans cannot be completely harmonious and loving.

 

Thankfully, God is at work in this mess.

  • To draw us to His gospel.
  • Mess >>> Mercy
  • Pain >>> Praise
  • Those whom God blesses and uses are not those who are perfect, but those who need Christ.

 

Not perfect but redeemable.

* How to be healed from a messy family?

  • Christ heals brokenness.
  • If already know it is fragile, take extra care to cling to God.
  • Repent of sins that contribute to the mess.
  • Be healed by God’s love and live out His word.
  • Persevere!

 

Lessons from Jacob’s messy family.

1) The marriage pleasing to God is that between one man and one woman.

 

2) Jealousy is destructive.

  • Only desire what others have but not appreciate what we have.
  • Can lead to more serious sins and extend beyond generations.
  • Hidden >>> dangerous
  • Tend to spoil relationships closer to us.
  • Makes us more bitter.
  • Solutions:
    • Find back our worth in God.
    • Learn to give thanks.
    • Love others sincerely.

 

3) Insistence on one’s desire(s) can be detrimental.

  • Jacob’s problem: Only loved Rachel, but did not confirm how valuable Leah was too.
  • We tend to love the obvious good, but do not see value in the lowly, despised, foolish, and the weak who are chosen by God <1 Co 1:27-28>.
  • Learn to appreciate blessings hidden in the “Leahs” of our lives.
  • Submit to God’s plan even if it is not of our choice.
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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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